Admission pass recording and cancelling machine

ABSTRACT

Admission Pass tickets are received within a machine which is thereby activated to complete a cycle including cancelling the pass by a punch, imprinting a record of the operation upon a record sheet and registering the number of completed cycles, or inserted passes, upon a counter. Errors in machine operation are prevented through the use of positive locking mechanisms, cable driven elements and a threaded transport for the punch.

United States Patent Campo [451 Oct.31, 1972 [54] ADMISSION PASS RECORDING AND CANCELLING MACHINE [72] Inventor: Charles Campo, 348 North Ashland Avenue, Berkeley, Ill. 60607 [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 185,757

[52] US. Cl. ..235/91 R [51] Int. Cl. ..G06m 1/00 [58] Field of Search ..235/91 R, 93, 103; 83/364,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1957 Cleave..... ..l94/4 2,949,802 8/1960 Arcus, Sr ..83/364 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal

Attorney-Albert F. Kronman ['57] ABSTRACT Admission Pass tickets are received within a machine which is thereby activated to complete a cycle including cancelling the pass by a punch, imprinting a record of the operation upon a record sheet and registering the number of completed cycles, or inserted passes, upon a counter. Errors in machine operation are prevented through the use of positive locking mechanisms, cable drivenelements and a threaded transport for the punch.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHN I I912 3.701.887

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ATTORNEY 1 ADMISSION PASS RECORDING AND CANCELLING MACHINE BACKGROUND O THE INVENTION Machines for recording and cancelling flat card.- shaped admission passes at the entrance to sporting or entertainment events have been disclosed in US. Pat, Nos. 2,799,337; 2,741,979; 2,741,980; and 2,949,802. The patented machines were actuated by the pass holy ders insertion of the admission pass into a slot in the top of the machine housing provided for this purpose. Upon each insertion the machine mechanism was started to complete a single cycle of cancelling the pass by means of a punch, recording the cycle upon a counter and restoring the mechanism to its original position to receive the next admission pass. Since a" single admission pass was often issued for a single use on each of several days the recording and cancelling machines described in the aforesaid patents were constructed so that the cancelling punch could be advanced to a newposition for each of the successive As-a result of the large number of passes presented in rapid succession'during normal use of these machines aswell as the fact thatrelatively unskilled employees might be entrusted with the setting up and operation of these devices, numerous breakdowns and faulty recording operations have taken place. .Instead of stopping at the end of each cycle, the prior art machines often travelled beyond the starting point causing subsequent malfunctions of the device. Often the change of thelocation of the cancelling punch from one position to the next was improperly carried out at the start of the day, resulting in improperly cancelled passes.

corresponding parts have been given identical reference numerals, in which drawings;

DESCRIPTION oF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, with the housing removed, of a complete embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is 'a fragmentary view in side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with certain parts omitted'for the sake of clarity,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 taken from the opposite side of the machine,

FIG. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the pass recording and cancelling machine with certain parts omitted for the sake of clarity. GENERAL DESCRIPTION N Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, 10 indicates the frame of the admission pass recording and cancelling machine. The print out unit 11 which is carried within the frame 10 during machine operation has been laterally displaced in the drawing for the sake Accordingly, is an object of the present invention to provide a pass recording and cancelling 'machine which will be free of the shortcomingsiof prior art devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pass recording and cancelling machine in which a positive stop is assured at the end of each cycle.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide a pass recording and cancelling machine in which movement. of the cancelling punch is accurate, positive and visibly recorded to prevent error.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In the present invention an admission pass is inserted into the mechanism through a slot in the machine house ing. If the pass, which is in the form of a rigid card, has

tion and the machine is brought to a positive stop ready for the nextcycle.

When it is desired to set the machine up for the next day, a Ipositive acting crank mechanism,coupled to a cable operates to rotate a threaded rod upon which the punch structure is carried. A second cable, driven by the crank mechanism indicates upon a counter that the punch has been moved.

of clarity. The operation of the print out unit has been fully described U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,802 and need not be repeated here. I

- An electric'motor 12 is secured to the bottom plate 13 of the frame 10. A spur gear 14 is secured to the output shaft 15 of v the motor 12' and drives a sprocket chain 16 The sprocket chain 16 transmits the rotary motion of the gear 14 to a second spun gear 17 secured to a stub shaft 18.

An operating cycle controlling disc 19 is secured to the outer end of the stub shaft 18. The periphery of the disc 19 is slotted as shown at 20 to receive an outwardly extending stop member 21. The stop member 21 liesin the path of the end of a bell crank lever 22 actuated by the solenoid 23. It will be seen that when the solenoid 23 is energized (see FIG. 2) its armature 24 will swing the bell crank lever 22 out of the path of the stop member 21 permitting it to be driven in the direction of the arrow 25. When the electrical potential to the solenoid is cut off, the spring 26 urges the free end of the lever 22 against the peripheral surface of the disc 19 and into the path of the stop member 21, thereby preventing the disc 19 from over running one complete revolution.

The stub shaft 18 is freely carried by a side plate 27 secured at its lower margin to the bottom plate 13, and at its upper end to the top of the housing 28 of the frame 10(see FIG. 4).

A second side plate 29 spaced from and parallel to the side plate 27.is also secured at its bottom margin to the bottom plate 13 and at its upper end to the housing 28. A second stub shaft 30 is journaled within the second side plate 29 in axial alignment with the first stub shaft and extends inwardly and beyond the said side plate 29 as best shown in FIG. 4.

Secured to and supported by the stub shafts 18, 30, is an elongated eccentric cam 31. A sleeve 32 is slideably carried upon the cam 31 and is provided with an annu lar groove 33. The bifurcated end 34 of a punch arm 35 is received within the sleeve groove 33. The punch arm 35 is pivotally secured to a punch block 36 as indicated at 37 and carries a laterally extending pin 38 adjacent its upper end.

A groove 39 in the punch block 36 slideably carries the male portion 40 of a punch. The male portion 40 of the punch is driven by the pin 38 as the punch arm 35 reciprocates in response to the rotation of the cam 33, thereby cancelling the admission card (see FIG. 4) which may have been shipped into the machine as fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,337. I

The punch block 36 is threadably received upon a lead screw 41. Spaced bearing blocks 42, 43, secured to the top member 44 of the frame freely support the ends of the lead screw 41. It will be apparent that as the lead screw 41 is rotated, the punch block 36 and all the mechanism secured thereto will be moved laterally across the lead screw with greatprecision.

Motion is imparted to the lead screw 41 by means of a crank wheel 45 secured to a pin 46 journaled in an upstanding casting 47. The crank'wheel is secured to a spur gear 48 (see FIG. 2), which is freely carried upon the pin 46. I 1

The spur gear 48 is in mesh with a second spur gear 49 secured to one end of a second pin 50 journaled within the casting 47 A flexible cable 51 interconnects the second pin 50 and the end of the lead screw 41 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each rotation of the crank wheel 45 rotates the lead screw a precise amount thereby driving the punch block 36 a positive and measured distance along the lead screw 41.

A second flexible cable 51a is secured at one end to the pin 46 and at its opposite end to the input shaft 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).of a counter 53. The counter 53 records the number of days (corresponding to the number of revolutions of the crank wheel 45) the admission pass recorder has been used.

In order to prevent the lead screw 41 and consequently the punch from being advanced too far the crank wheel 45 is notched as indicated at 54 to receive a spring loaded detent 55. The detent 55 must be pulled out of the notch before the crank wheel 45 can be rotated. As the crank wheel completes one revolution the detent automatically snaps into the notch 54 thereby bringing the crank wheel to a precise stop. The counter will record one additional rotation and the operator cannot forget whether or not he moved the punch for the next days use.

The second stub shaft 30 which is secured at one end to the eccentric cam 31 extends through the side plate 29 and is fixed to cylindrical collar 56 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). A hollow cam 57 is slipped over the collar 56 and attached thereto by means of set screws 58. In this manner the relative position between the collar 56 and the cam 57 may be adjusted with great accuracy during the useful life of the machine.

The importance of precisely setting the cam 57 will be understood by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,337 wherein it is disclosed that this cam and its cam follower 64, together with micro-switches 63, and 64 control the sequential operation of the motor 12 the solenoid 23 and its associated stop 21.

A link 59 interconnects the outer face 60 of the cam 57 with an arm 61 secured to the input shaft 62 of a second or attendance counter 63. In this manner the total number of cycles of the pass recorder will be shown at the end of each days use.

As fully set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,337, the Admission Pass Recording and Cancelling Machine described herein is started by the insertion of a cardlike pass 5 into a slot (not shown) in the top of the housing 28. As the card reaches the bottom of its travel it trips micro-switches which connect the motor 12 and solenoid 23-to a source of electrical potential (not shown). The sequence of operations which follow including the print out is fully described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,337.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided an admission pass recording and cancelling machine in which each cycle is positively controlled in duration, day to day setting of the machine is consistently accurate and variations in the sequential operations due to prolonged use can be corrected with ease.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patents of the United States, is:

1. An admission pass recording and cancelling machine wherein a flat card shaped pass is inserted through a slot to actuate the mechanism comprising I rigid frame, a bottom plate on said frame, spaced upstanding first and second side plates secured at their lower margins to the bottom plate, and a top member interconnecting the top portions of the side plates, a

source of rotary power secured to the bottom plate, a

I first stub shaft journaled in the first side plate and extending outwardly and inwardly thereof, a disc member secured to the outer portion of the first stub shaft, gears carried by the first stub shaft and source of rotary power operatively coupled together to drive the disc member, a slot in the periphery of the disc member, a stop member carried within the slot, a bell crank lever swingably carried by the frame with its free end in the path of the stop member, 'a source of reciprocal motion connected to the opposite end-of the bell crank lever whereby the free end of the bell cranklever can be swung into and out of engagement with the stop member, a second stub shaft journaled in the second side plate in axial alignment with the first stub shaft, an elongated eccentric cam secured between the stub shafts for rotation therewith, a lead screw freely carried between the spaced side plates and parallel to the elongated cam, a punch block threaded upon the lead screw, a male punch carried by the punch block for notching a pass card placed in its path, a punch arm pivotally secured to the punch block in driving engagement with the punch at its upper end, a bifurcated portion on the lower end of the punch armembracing the elongated cam' whereby the rotation of the said cam is translated into reciprocal motion of the punch, an upstanding casting member secured to the bottom plate, a first pin journaled within the casting member, a crank wheel secured to the outer portion of the first pin, a second pin journaled within the casting member, gear means carried by the first and second pins in driving en'- gagement, a first flexible cable secured at one end to the second pin and at its other end to the lead screw whereby rotation of the crank wheel is translated into rotation of the lead screw and traverse of the punch block, a second flexible cable secured at one end of the first pin, a counter carried by the bottom plate, an input shaft on said counter and means to couple the other end of the second flexible shaft to the counter input shaft whereby each rotation of the crank wheel is recorded upon the counter, a cylindrical collar secured to the outer portion of the second stub shaft, a hollow cam adjustably secured over the said collar, a cam follower in contact with said cam and at least one microswitch responsive to the rotary motion of the cam to regulate the operation of the sources of rotary power and reciprocal motion of the pass recording and cancelling machine, an attendance counter secured to the frame, an input shaft on the attendance counter and a link secured at one end to the outer face of the hollow cam and coupled at its other end to the input shaft of the counter whereby each rotation of the hollow cam will result in one revolution of the said counter input shaft. 7

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the source of reciprocal motion is a solenoid and the bell crank lever is spring loaded to urge the stop in the direction of the periphery of the disc member at all times.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which an annularly grooved sleeve is slideably carried upon the elongated cam and the bifurcated end of the punch arm is received within the said annular groove.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the crank wheel is formed with a peripheral notch to receive a spring loaded locking detent.

5. A device according to claim 1 in which the hollow cam is secured to the cylindrical collar by means of set screws carried by the said cam. 

1. An admission pass recording and cancelling machine wherein a flat card shaped pass is inserted through a slot to actuate the mechanism comprising a rigid frame, a bottom plate on said frame, spaced upstanding first and second side plates secured at their lower margins to the bottom plate, and a top member interconnecting the top portions of the side plates, a source of rotary power secured to the bottom plate, a first stub shaft journaled in the first side plate and extending outwardly and inwardly thereof, a disc member secured to the outer portion of the first stub shaft, gears carried by the first stub shaft and source of rotary Power operatively coupled together to drive the disc member, a slot in the periphery of the disc member, a stop member carried within the slot, a bell crank lever swingably carried by the frame with its free end in the path of the stop member, a source of reciprocal motion connected to the opposite end of the bell crank lever whereby the free end of the bell crank lever can be swung into and out of engagement with the stop member, a second stub shaft journaled in the second side plate in axial alignment with the first stub shaft, an elongated eccentric cam secured between the stub shafts for rotation therewith, a lead screw freely carried between the spaced side plates and parallel to the elongated cam, a punch block threaded upon the lead screw, a male punch carried by the punch block for notching a pass card placed in its path, a punch arm pivotally secured to the punch block in driving engagement with the punch at its upper end, a bifurcated portion on the lower end of the punch arm embracing the elongated cam whereby the rotation of the said cam is translated into reciprocal motion of the punch, an upstanding casting member secured to the bottom plate, a first pin journaled within the casting member, a crank wheel secured to the outer portion of the first pin, a second pin journaled within the casting member, gear means carried by the first and second pins in driving engagement, a first flexible cable secured at one end to the second pin and at its other end to the lead screw whereby rotation of the crank wheel is translated into rotation of the lead screw and traverse of the punch block, a second flexible cable secured at one end of the first pin, a counter carried by the bottom plate, an input shaft on said counter and means to couple the other end of the second flexible shaft to the counter input shaft whereby each rotation of the crank wheel is recorded upon the counter, a cylindrical collar secured to the outer portion of the second stub shaft, a hollow cam adjustably secured over the said collar, a cam follower in contact with said cam and at least one micro-switch responsive to the rotary motion of the cam to regulate the operation of the sources of rotary power and reciprocal motion of the pass recording and cancelling machine, an attendance counter secured to the frame, an input shaft on the attendance counter and a link secured at one end to the outer face of the hollow cam and coupled at its other end to the input shaft of the counter whereby each rotation of the hollow cam will result in one revolution of the said counter input shaft.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which the source of reciprocal motion is a solenoid and the bell crank lever is spring loaded to urge the stop in the direction of the periphery of the disc member at all times.
 3. A device according to claim 1 in which an annularly grooved sleeve is slideably carried upon the elongated cam and the bifurcated end of the punch arm is received within the said annular groove.
 4. A device according to claim 1 in which the crank wheel is formed with a peripheral notch to receive a spring loaded locking detent.
 5. A device according to claim 1 in which the hollow cam is secured to the cylindrical collar by means of set screws carried by the said cam. 